Stellar eclipse gives glimpse of exoplanet
New data reveals a ‘super-Earth’ next door, astronomically speaking
3 Questions: Sara Seager on discovering a trove of new planets
NASA’s Kepler orbiting telescope has found hundreds of new possible planets, including 54 in the so-called 'habitable zone.'
Explained: Transiting exoplanets
How astronomers learn whether a planet is habitable by observing slight changes in light emanating from its parent star.
The final frontier
Now that an Earthlike planet has been discovered, the key to confirming that it can host life will be to study its atmosphere in detail
Learning from hot Jupiters
By studying how massive planets may have formed, MIT astrophysicist sets the stage for studying smaller, more Earthlike planets.
Building a list of Earth candidates
MIT researchers increase their odds of detecting an Earthlike planet by working on a combination of satellite missions.
Astronomers detect first carbon-rich exoplanet
Discovery opens door to new class of exoplanets, including rocky planets rich in diamond and graphite.
Growing Earth’s oceans
Study suggests that trace amounts of water created oceans on Earth and other terrestrial planets, including those outside the solar system.
3 Questions: Sara Seager on the discovery of a ‘new’ form of life
The MIT planetary scientist discusses what the finding means for life on Earth and elsewhere in the universe.
Explained: the Doppler effect
The same phenomenon behind changes in the pitch of a moving ambulance’s siren is helping astronomers locate and study distant planets.
In a first, astronomers detect strong winds on an exoplanet
Researchers see tempestuous atmosphere on a planet located 150 light years from Earth.
In the search for Earthlike exoplanets, GJ 436b has much to tell us
First detailed analysis of the atmosphere of a Neptune-sized planet reveals surprisingly low methane levels, presents "new territory" for researching planets outside our solar system
Team predicts satellite could locate hundreds of Earth-sized planets
Researchers say proposed satellite could represent astronomy’s ‘next big leap’ — one that may help find signs of life elsewhere in the universe.
3 Questions: Sara Seager on searching for Earth-like planets
MIT planetary scientist discusses projects that aim to discover distant planets similar to our own, and what we can learn when we find them